Ex-horse rescue owner in Ohio found guilty of animal cruelty

Shula Woodworth was found guilty of three misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

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A jury found Shula Woodworth, 46, of Troy, Ohio guilty of three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty on Tuesday for failing to provide food and water for 100 animals at the now defunct Serenity Horse Rescue reported wdtn.com.

On Feb. 24, 2013, authorities raided the 25 acre farm located at 5275 State Route 201 in Bethel Township and seized 100 animals in various stages of starvation and illness. The animals seized included horses, alpacas, pigs, and goats. Some of the horses were unable to stand while others had been eating the bark off of trees trying to survive.

According to the Miami County Humane Society, complaints about the rescue began in 2012, and although there were numerous visits to the farm checking on clean up procedures and care of the animals, conditions didn't improve.

After deliberating only 90 minutes, the jury came back with guilty verdicts on three counts; two other counts were dismissed.

Woodworth cried as the verdict was read; she testified earlier that she always fed the animals and many were in terrible condition when she rescued them.

No date has been set for sentencing.

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